What video camera do you use?
- Thread starter Shaky1
- Start date
Someone suggested I get a Go Pro 2 HD? Doesn't the fish eye lens distort things too much? At 300. it's not exactly cheap.
I just spent quite a bit of time on this, did alot of research. Ended up getting a Toshiba Camileo H30 Full HD Camcorder for 135. But man, that thing was a piece of crap.
Returned it and got a Canon Vixia HF M40. I'm not that tech savy so I wouldnt say its easy to use. But once you spend some time with it, the quality is excellent all around. The price looks high right now but I caught a $250 price drop a few months ago, paid $350.
The GoPro HD is a good camera, and there are ways around the fisheye if you want to spend the time and a bit more money for a new lens.
You can get the HD naked for $200
http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-naked-camera/
That's the first camera they came out with.
With cameras/camcorders, you do get what you pay for. Cnet has some good reviews and suggestions:
http://reviews.cnet.com/camcorders/?tag=hdr;brandnav
You can get the HD naked for $200
http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-naked-camera/
That's the first camera they came out with.
With cameras/camcorders, you do get what you pay for. Cnet has some good reviews and suggestions:
http://reviews.cnet.com/camcorders/?tag=hdr;brandnav
I use the Sony Bloggie. Records 1080. It's wide enough to fit the table in the frame at a reasonable distance. Image quality would obviously be better if you went with a dedicated camcorder. Doesn't have any external hookups for mics or RCA cables, but it gets the job done.
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/st...&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=MHSTS20/S
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/st...&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=MHSTS20/S
My buddy and I record our matches with his GoPro Hero 2. We put a mount over our main playing table and the camera sets up in a matter of seconds. Resolution is really good. We record a match, then take the camera over to one of the flatscreen tvs and critique ourselves.
JC
Coos Cues
Camcorder is a tool
Just like any tool one must first define the job they are trying to get done. Obviosly it's to record pool but why? Do you wish to record yourself at home? Do you want to record matches elsewhere? Do you want to post it on the internet or just watch it on your TV or Computer? The reason these things matter is because with video recording it's all about light. At home you can control your lighting. Video recording chips are not sensitive as the eyes are so they tend to adjust for the brightest area which is the table. This can leave you not being able to see things about yourself that might interest you. Stroke, stance etc. The cheaper the camera the less it generally can adapt to these lighting contrasts. So at home you can add background light to a room to even out this effect but not at a venue. So if you're interested in filming events a higher end camera with a larger chip is better. Also it's generally better to shoot from an elevated spot to see the action without being blocked by bodies. A camera with a remote controller to start and stop the filming is almost a must and this feature usually isn't available with lower end cameras. The best way to film practice is to start and stop the camera frequently to create bite sized files. Having to go to the camera personally to start and stop it is a pain especially if it's shooting from up high. With so many choices it's best to know what you want to do and work backwards. What works well for one person may have critical faults for the next.
Just like any tool one must first define the job they are trying to get done. Obviosly it's to record pool but why? Do you wish to record yourself at home? Do you want to record matches elsewhere? Do you want to post it on the internet or just watch it on your TV or Computer? The reason these things matter is because with video recording it's all about light. At home you can control your lighting. Video recording chips are not sensitive as the eyes are so they tend to adjust for the brightest area which is the table. This can leave you not being able to see things about yourself that might interest you. Stroke, stance etc. The cheaper the camera the less it generally can adapt to these lighting contrasts. So at home you can add background light to a room to even out this effect but not at a venue. So if you're interested in filming events a higher end camera with a larger chip is better. Also it's generally better to shoot from an elevated spot to see the action without being blocked by bodies. A camera with a remote controller to start and stop the filming is almost a must and this feature usually isn't available with lower end cameras. The best way to film practice is to start and stop the camera frequently to create bite sized files. Having to go to the camera personally to start and stop it is a pain especially if it's shooting from up high. With so many choices it's best to know what you want to do and work backwards. What works well for one person may have critical faults for the next.
iPhone 4 on a GorillaCam tripod. don't laugh if you haven't tried it, it works great.
the tripod goes in the zippered section of my case easily.
as good photographers say, the best camera is the one you have with you.
the tripod goes in the zippered section of my case easily.
as good photographers say, the best camera is the one you have with you.
Wiggly, I'm considering that myself. I don't have a table of my own, so any video recording action on my part would be in an environment where I wouldn't be able to setup anything fancy or have much control over lighting. (In my case I'd be using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone, but the same sort of mount would work for it)
The basic goal is to record practice sessions for later analysis by myself or others. Obviously, HD would be nice, but it's understandably a compromise situation - I'll take what I can get.
The basic goal is to record practice sessions for later analysis by myself or others. Obviously, HD would be nice, but it's understandably a compromise situation - I'll take what I can get.
lt1altered
New member
I was just testing my new GoPro HD Hero2 this morning fastened to a cue stick with a roll bar mount:
http://youtu.be/Mmh6ZMIrVUA
http://youtu.be/Mmh6ZMIrVUA
I use Canons, 1 is a Vixia HFR100 and the other is a Canon HV40. One I stream with and the other I record stuff with. The HV40 is mini-dv so it uses tapes but the quality is fantastic, the HFR100 uses an SD card which is easy to work with. I would recommend this camera or something similar by Canon because its so easy to use and work with if your editing.
I use a 16gb card and record a few hours at the highest quality setting, if you lower the settings you get more time. I like that I can pop out the SD card and put it in my computer and watch the file on Windows Media Player and even do a quick edit in Windows Live Movie Maker. These programs are on your computer already so unlike some cameras you wont need a special program to edit them, some HD cameras can be a PITA because of the file format used.
Pool Video shot with HV40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxWqDl4Wg5Y
Video with HFR100
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJH_08np_c
I use a 16gb card and record a few hours at the highest quality setting, if you lower the settings you get more time. I like that I can pop out the SD card and put it in my computer and watch the file on Windows Media Player and even do a quick edit in Windows Live Movie Maker. These programs are on your computer already so unlike some cameras you wont need a special program to edit them, some HD cameras can be a PITA because of the file format used.
Pool Video shot with HV40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxWqDl4Wg5Y
Video with HFR100
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJH_08np_c
JC
Coos Cues
I had an hv30 and the video was awesome but the tape drive is just too primative. To have to transfer everything in real time to a pc is yesterday's news. I saw the writing on the wall with the ever falling flash memory prices and sold it on E-bay while it still had a cult following. Geez I got as much as I paid for it new! With a 1.5 terabyte usb 3 pocket drive available for about 100 bucks for file backup I see no future for the tape. I bought a panasonic dual flash cam which I'm quite happy with so far.
JC
Most video cameras will work. Even a cheap web cam works. What's more important is using motion analysis software like StrokeAnalyzer to really see what's happening and when.
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I agree, I use my Canon HV40 for streaming mainly or short videos, using flash cameras for streaming does not work unless you use a capture device which hurts quality. I use the hrf100 for recording long videos like pool matches, its a mid range hd camcorder that works pretty good, just bought a 32 gb card for it. I might eventually get a higher end hd flash camera down the road. :smile: